Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 2.djvu/58

 express Commandment of his Father's Ghost: There he was to shew him all the succeeding Heroes of his Race; and next to Romulus, (mark, if you please, the Address of Virgil) his own Patron ''Augustus Cæsar. Anchises was likewise to instruct him, how to manage the Italian'' War; and how to conclude it with his Honour. That is, in other words, to lay the Foundations of that Empire which Augustus was to Govern. This is the Noble Invention of our Author; but it hath been Copied by so many Sign-post-Dawbers, that now tis grown fulsom; rather by their want of Skill, than by the Commonness.

In the last place I may safely grant, that by reading Homer, Virgil was taught to imitate his Invention; that is, to imitate like him: which is no more, than if a Painter studied Raphael, that he might learn to design after his manner. And thus I might imitate Virgil, if I were capable of writing an Heroick Poem, and yet the Invention be my own: But I shou'd endeavour to avoid a servile Copying. I would not give the same Story under other Names, with the same Characters, in the same Order, and with the same Sequel; for every common Reader to find me out at the first sight for a Plagiary, and cry, This I read before in Virgil, in a better Language, and in better Verse. This is like Merry-Andrew on the low Rope, copying lubberly the same Tricks, which his Master is so dextrously performing on the high.

I will trouble your Lordship but with one Objection more; which I know not whether I found in Le Fevre or Valois; but I am sure I have read it in another French Critick, whom I will not name, because I think it is not much for his Reputation. Virgil, in the heat of A­ction, suppose for Example, in describing the Fury of his Heroe in a Battel, when he is endeavouring to raise our Concernments to the high­est pitch, turns Rh